Coin control mechanism for electrically operated machines



NOV. 21, 1933. B. E M|| Ls 1,935,982

COIN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ELECTRICALLY OPERATED MACHINES Filed May 9, 1952 4 sheets-sheet 1 f 'E E i r I fl E E E I E E +2 l b96 Je ff) 29 25 /y 7] ad w l, a L,

r' l f7 I I i i I /4 z fg l 42 f5' No 21, 1933- B. E. MILLS 1,935,982

COIN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ELECTRICALLY OPERATED MACHINES Filed lay 9. 1932 4 She'e'LS-Sh'eet 2 Nov. 21, 1933.

B. E. MILLS 1,935,982 COIN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ELECTRICALLY OPERATED MACHINES Fledllay 9, 1932 l '4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ZC; j

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Patented Nov. 2 1,l 1933 PATENT OFFICE COIN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ELEC- TRICALLY OPERATED MACHINES Bert E. Mills, Oak Park, Ill., assigner to Mills Novelty Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofY Illinois Application May 3, 1932. Serial No., 610,122

lli) Claims..

a switch in the circuit of a motor which operates.

the compressor ofthe refrigerator, said mechanism being operated by coins inserted in the device to cause the switch to ycloser-and remain closed for a predetermined period, which preferably is variable according to the number of coins inserted, the mechanism being operable atthe.

end of'said period, or periodically if more than one coin has been inserted, to either open thel switch or move a switch actuating member one step toward switch opening position. The present invention has to-do primarily with simplifying and improving the means ,for producing the latter operations of said mechanism. v

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevational View cil a case for holding the clock mechanism and the coin-@perated circuit controller;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the case taken on lin'e 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion ci themultiple coin circuit controller mechanism;

Fig. 4 4is a .vertical section through the case taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the circuit controller mechanism, thesection being taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary .-vew of a portion of the back wall of the case showing a glass panel through which 'the operator may observe the condition of the circuit controller; and

Fig. '7 is a wiring diagram of the refrigerator motor and timing motor circuits.

The clock case may be of any preferred form, the one shown comprising a front wall l1,`top and bottom .walls designated respectively by numerals 12 and 13, side walls 14, and a back wall 15, the latter including a removable wall section 16 provided'at its upper edge with a hand piece 17 which may be grasped to'effect removal of the section from the back of the'case.

The timing mechanism, which includes a time indicating means, is not shown in detail. This mechanism, which is indicated generally by the numeral 1 8 (Fig. 2) consisting of a clock which is mounted on a ira-ine plate 19, said plate being anchored upon and projecting upwardly from bottom wall 13. The clock movement is contained in a tubular casing 21 which extends forwardly from plate 19. The face plate of the clock is indicated at 22 and the minute, hour, and secondhands are indicated by numerals 23, 241, and 25, respectively. The face of the clock is protected by a glass crystal plate 26 which is received in a anged opening 27 in front wall l1. The clocl; mechanism shown is electrically operated, however aniordinary spring-wound clock may be employed ii desired.

The multiple coin circuit controller which acts in conjunction with the clock mechanism to time the operation of the refrigerator motor is shown in Figs. 2-5, inclusive. It comprises: a switch 27 mounted on plate 19; a ratchet' 28 rotatably supp'orted on a shaft 29 carried by plate 19, said ratchet being provided near itsperiphery with a forwardly-projecting stud 30 for opening and closing switch 27; a coin-controlled escapement mechanism indicated generally by numeral 31; and a ratchet return mechanism indicated generally by numeral 32.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, switch 27 consists of a pair of contacts 33 and 34 secured, respectively, to arms 35 and 36, the latter in turn being supported from plate 19 by an insulation block 37. As will presently appear in the description of Fig. 7, the opposite sides of switch 27 are connected in circuit with the refrigerator motor through wires 33 and 39. Switch'arm 36 is made of resilient material and is biased toward 'arm 35 so as to urge contact 34 against contact 33. The free end of arm 36 is provided with a fibre strip 41, which projects into the path of travel of stud 30.

Ratchet 28 is normally urged in a clockwise direction, viewing Figs. 3 and 4, by a coil spring 42, one end of which is secured to shaft 29, and theother end or which is secured to the web of the ratchet, as indicated at 43. Ratchet 28 is held by' escapernent mechanism' 31 in open circuit position, as shown in Fig. 3, in which position it will be observed that stud 30` rests against nbre strip 41 to hold contacts 33 and 34 in separated open circuit position.

Escapement mechanism 31, which controls the movement of ratchet28 and stud 30 away from Aopen circuitposition, comprises: a lever 44, pivot- 110 ed on a shaft 45 which projects upwardly from plate 19; and a second lever 46, also pivoted on shaft 45 and provided at one end with a rod 47, said rod 47 being provided at its free end with a sheet-metal trough 48 which is disposed below the open end of a coin chute 49.

A coil spring 51, extending between the lower end of lever 44 and a fixed point on the frame, urges lever 44 in a counter-clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 4, thereby normally holding the upper end 52 of said lever in engagement with the teeth 53 of ratchet 28. The body portion of lever 44 is provided with a rearwardly turned lip 54 which engages arm 55 of lever 46. This connection between levers 44 and 46 thus providesv means whereby the latter is also normally urged in a counter-clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 4, under the action of spring 51. A stop 56 engages arm 57 of lever 46 to limit the turning movement of the latter under the action ofspring 51. Arm 57 of lever 46 is provided with a rack 58, pivoted at 59 to said arm 57, and provided with teeth 61 for engaging teeth 53 of ratchet 28. The pivotal movement of rack 58 on arm 57 is limited by a pair of spaced stops 62 and 63 which project rearwardly through an arcuate slot 64 formed in rack 58.

When a coin is inserted through top wall 12 of the casing into the upper end of coin chute 49,

it falls onto trough 48 and pivots levers 44 and 46 in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 4, thereby withdrawing the end 52 of lever 44,from ratchet 28, and at the same time moving the teeth 61 of rack 58 against ratchet 28. Ratchet 28 is thus allowed to turn in a clockwise direction under the action of spring 42 until rack 58 is turned under the action of ratchet 28 far enough to bring the lower edge of opening 64 against stop 63. Ratchet 28 is thus permitted to move a distance equal to the space between one pair of adjacent teeth 53 for each coin actuation of the escapement mechanism 31. As the coih slides off from trough 48, arm 44 is again thrust against ratchet 28, and rack 58 falls to the normal position shown in Fig. 4. It is apparent, therefore, that upon each coin actuation of escapement mechanism 31, ratchet 28 will be moved one step in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 4, thereby moving stud 30 one step away from circuitbreaking position. Ratchet 28 may be thus stepped awayfrom circuit-breaking position any desired distance up to the limit of the number of teeth provided thereon. A stop 65 projecting rearwardly from plate 19, is positioned in the path of stud 30 to limit the turning of the ratchet in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 4, under the action of the escapement mechanism. The number of steps which ratchet 28 has been moved from circuit-breaking position is indicated on a circular disc 66 which is supported on the ratchet by bracket arms 67. A series of numerals 68 printed on the back surface of disc 66 may be viewed by the operator through a transparent panel 69 (Fig. 6) which is provided in the removable back Wall section 16. The number displayed through this opening indicates the number of steps which ratchet 28 is removed from circuitbreaking position.

The ratchet return mechanism 32, which is periodically operated by the timing mechanism to return ratchet 28 and stud 30 to circuit-breaking position, is best shown in Fig. 3. It comprises: a rotatable shaft 71 which` is journaled in a frame plate 72, .the latter forming a part of the housing for the clock mechanism; a spur wheel 73 secured to shaft 71; a second spur wheel 74 secured to a shaft 75, the latter being driven from the clock mechanism; an arm 76 carried by the free end of shaft 71; and a pawl 77 pivoted at 78 to arm 76 and provided with attooth 79 for engaging the teeth 53 of ratchet 28.

A coil spring 81 secured at one end to a forwardly extending projection 82 on pawl 77, and at the other end to a forwardly extending projection 83 on arm 76, normally holds pawl 77 in the position shown in Fig. 4, in which position projection 82 on said pawl engages against arm 76 to limit the turning of the pawl under the action of spring 81. Shaft 71 is driven from shaft 75 in a clockwisev direction, viewing Fig. 4, and in the course of its turning movement carries pawl 77 in a circular path about the axis of shaft 71. The ratio of gears73 and 74 is such that shaft 7l is rotated through one complete revolution once every twenty-four hours.

Inasmuch as pawl 77 would be moved very slowly under the turning action of shaft 71, it is necessary to arrange the pawl so that it will be snapped or suddenly thrust against the teeth of ratchet 28 at the end of a measured time period, this action being necessary to effect quick opening of the controller switch. lTo this end there is provided on pawl 77 an arm 84 which is off-set forwardly from the main portion of the pawl, as indicated at 85. As pawl 77 approaches ratchet 28 the tip portion 86 of `arm 84 strikes a block 87 which projects rearwardly from plate 19. As shaft 71 continues to advance, the pawl is pivoted about point 78 in a counter-clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 4, this' turning movement being resisted by spring 81. Continued'rotation of shaft 71 brings pawl 77 to the position shown in Fig. 3 which represents a point close to the end of the twenty-four hour period required for one full rotation of shaft 7l. At exactly the end of the twenty-four hour periodthe point 86 of arm 84 moves past the corner of block 87 and the pawl is then quickly snapped back to normal position by spring 81. During this return movement of the pawl the tooth 79 thereon strikes one of the teeth 53 on ratchet 28 and moves the latter against the tension of spring 42 one step in a counter-clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 4, vthereby returning stud 30 one step toward circuit-breaking position. After pawl 77 has thus imparted a step return movement to ratchet 28, it continues in its circular path of movement about the axis of shaft 71, and at the end of the next twenty-four hour period repeats the step return action just described.

When ratchet 28 has finally been moved to the circuit-breaking position shown in Fig. 3, pawl 77 will have no further action on ratchet 28, due to the fact that one of the teeth 53 of the latter is shortened', as indicated at 88 (Figs. 3 and 5), so that it will not be struck by the tooth 79 on pawl 77. This short tooth is so positioned on ratchet k28 that it will be opposite the path of tooth 79 when said ratchet is in the circuitbreaking position shown in Fig. 3. Therefore, after switch 27 has been opened, continued rotation of shaft 71 and pawl 77 can have no further effect on said switch, pending the introduction of additional coins. Although the shortened tooth on ratchet 28 is not struck by the tooth 79, it is sufficiently long so as to be engaged by the tip 52 of arm 44 of the escapement mechanism.

The wiring diagram shown in Fig. 7 will now be described. Current from a suitable source of supply is conducted through a plug 89 to a pair of main line wires 91 and 92 which connect with posts 93 and 94, respectively, the latter being mounted on a distributor block 95 (Fig. 4). The circuit which energizes the refrigerator motor is traced from post 94 through a Wire 96 to arm 35 of the controller switch which connects through contacts 33 and 34 to the other arm 36 of said switch. A wire 97 connects switch arm 36 to a terminal post 98 which is mounted on distributor block 95. Wire 99 leads from post 98 to a connector 101 which establishes connection with the compressor motor of the refrigerator (not shown), the return from connector 101 being through a wire 102 to the other side of the main line at post 93. It is apparent, therefore, that the compressor motor is connected in series with controller switch 27 and is, therefore, directly controlled by the opening and closing of saidA switch. The current supply to the clock drive motor 103 is taken from terminal post 94 through a wire 104 to said motor, the return therefrom being through a wire 105 which connects with post 93. The leads for the clock drive motor are thus connected directly across the main line, so that whenever plug 89 is connected with the source of supply, clock motor 103 will operate regardless of whether controller switch 2'? be opened or closed. The advantage of having the clock drive motor 103 operate continuously, regardless of whether the compressor motor circuit be open or closed is fully explained in my prior application Serial No. 583,614. It may be briefly stated that one advantage of such an arrangement is that it insures that the compressor motor circuit will always be opened at a predetermined point of time, even though the operator may not have inserted the coin until after a portion of a measured time period has elapsed. Also, the arrangement makes the clock mechanism available as a time indicating means even when it is not desired to have the compressor motor circuit closed.`

The operation of the mechanism is briefly `as follows: Assuming plug 89 is connected so that clock motor 103 is running, land further assuming the time to be twelve oclock noon, with the parts in the open circuit positionshown in Fig. 3, the operator drops a coin into the coin chute 49. As soon as the coin strikes trough 48 it actuates escapement mechanism 3l to allow ratchet 28 to turn under the action of spring 42 one step in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 3, thereby moving stud 30 one step away from fibre strip 4l and allowing switch 27 to close. The compressor motor is thereupon energized and as shaft 7l proceeds to turn in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 3, under the action`of thetiming mechanism it carries pawl 77 toward the position shown in Fig. 4. As the end of the twenty-four hour period approaches, the tip portion 86 of arm 84 strikes block 87 and gradually pivots pawl 77 against the action of spring 81. Immediately upon the expiration of the twenty-four hour period the tip 86 of pawl 77 clears block 87 and tooth 79 of said pawl is quickly snapped into engagement with one of the teeth 53 on ratchet 28, thereby returning the latter one step and opening switch 27. The compressor motor is thus deenegized by the opening ofY switch 27 at the end of the twenty-four hour period ending at twelve oclock noon. Pending further coin actuations of the controller, continued operation of the timing mechanism has no effect on ratchet '28 and switch 27 since the short tooth 88 on the ratchet now lies opposite the path of pawl 77 and hence ,the ratchet is not further actuated by said pawl as the latter continues to turn with timingshaft In the event that a number of coins have been introduced into the controller, the foregoing cycle of operations is theI same,- except that the effect of the successive introduction of coins will be to move stud 30 a number of steps away from circuit-breaking position, which means that it will be necessary for pawl 77 to actuate ratchet 28 a corresponding numberof times before stud 30 will finally be returned to circuit-breaking position. In othen words, the action for a number of coins is cumulative so that the allowed period of operation will vary in length depending upon the number of coins introduced.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

i. In an electric refrigerator or the like: the combination with a compressor motor; a supply circuit therefor and a switch in said circuit; of mechanism for controlling said switch comprising a movable element, switch actuating means associated therewith, coin-controlled means for moving said element in direction to cause said switch to close and start operation of the compressor motor, and rneans including a source of motive power, a gear train, a shaftv operated thereby, and a mechanically operated pawl on \mechanism for controlling said switch comprising a movable element, switch actuating means associated therewith, a multiple-coin control device including means formoving said element in direction to cause said switch to close and start ,operation of the compressor'motor, and means including a source ofmotive' power, a gear train, a shaft operated thereby, and a mechanically operated pawl on said shaft for periodically moving said switch actuating means in direction to effect opening of the switch after elapse of a time period varying in length in. accordance with the number of coin actuations of said control device.

3. In an electrically operated apparatus: the combination oi' a motor; a supply circuit therefor, including a switch; and mechanism for controlling said switch comprising a movable element, switch actuating means associated therewith, coin control means for moving said element in direction to cause said switch to close and start operation of the motor, and rneans'including a source of motive power, a gear train, a shaft operated thereby, and a mechanically operated pawl on said shaft for periodically moving said switch actuating means in direction to open the switch.

4. In an electrically operated apparatus: the combination of a motor; a supply circuit therefor, including a switch; and -mechanism for ccntrolling said switch comprising a movable element, switch actuating means associated therewith, coin control means for moving said element in direction to cause said switch to close and start operation of the motor, and means for periodically moving said switch actuating means in direction to open the switch, said means including a source of motive power, a gear train, a shaft operated thereby, a spring-held actuating member on said shaft adapted to be moved by rotation of the latter into position for engaging said element, and means operative to place said member under tension upon. its approachV to actuating position, 1 said last-mentioned means being arranged to release` the actuating member a't a predetermined position of said shaft, thereby enabling 'said member to impart a sudden thrust to said element to effect quickl opening of said switch, r

5. In an electrically voperated apparatus: the combination of a motor; a supply circuit therefor, including a switch; and mechanism for controlling saidswitch -comprising a movable element, switch actuating means associated therewith, coin control means for moving said .element in direction to cause said switch to close and start operation of the motor, and means for periodically moving said switch actuating means in direction to open the switch, said means including a source of motive power, a gear train, a shaft operated thereby, an arm mounted on and rotatable with said shaft, a spring-held actuating member carried by said arm and adapted to be moved by the latter into position for engaging said element, and a stopblock positioned to engage and partially retard advance of said member upon its approach to actuating position, said block being arranged to release Ithe actuating member at a predetermined position of said shaft, thereby enabling said member to impa'rt a sudden thrust to said element to effect quick opening of said switch.

6. Ine-.an electrically operated apparatus: the

combination of a motor; a supply circuit therefor, l, including a switch; and mechanism for control ling said switch comprising a movable element,

switch actuating means associated therewith, a'

multiple coin control device including means for moving said element in direction to cause said switch to close and start oper'ationof the motor, and means for moving said switch actuating means in direction to effect opening of the switch after elapse of a time period varying in length in accordance with the number of 'coin actuations of said control device, said means including a source 'of motive power, a gear train, a shaft operated thereby, a spring-held actuating mem'- ber on said shaft adapted to be moved by rotation of the latter into position for engaging said element, and means'- operative to place said member under tension upon its approach to actuating position, Vsaid means being arranged to re- .lease the actuating member at a predetermined position of said shaft, thereby enabling said member to impart'a sudden thrust to said element to effect quick opening of said switch.

'1. In a meter control system for an electrically operated mechanism: the combination of a source of current supply; a ci-rcuit for energizing said mechanism from said sour`c'e of supply; a coinoperated circuit controller including a switch for opening and closing said circuit, a control memb'er for opening and closing said switch, and

means for moving said control member in direcassociated therewith, com-controlled means for tion'to cause said switch to close upon coin actuation of the controller; timing mechanism; and means including a. shaft operated by the timing mechanism, and a mechanically operated pawl on said shaft for periodically moving said control member in direction to open the switch.

8. In a meter control system for an electrically operated mechanism: the combination of a source of current supply; a circuit for energizing said mechanism from said source of supply; -a coinoperated circuit controller including a switch for opening and closing said circuit, a control element for opening `and closing said'switch, and means for moving said element in direction to cause said -switch to close upon coin actuation of the controller; timing mechanism; and means for periodically moving said control element in direction to open the switch, said means including a shaft operated by the timing mechanism, a spring-held actuating member on said shaft adapted to be moved by rotation of the latter into position for engaging said element, and means operative to place said member under tension upon its approach to actuating position, said means being arranged to release the actuating member at a predetermined position of said shaft, thereby enabling said member to impart a sudden thrust to said element to effect quick opening of the switch.

-circuit therefor and a switch in said circuit; of

mechanism for controlling said switch comprising a movable element, switch actuating means moving said element in direction to cause said switch to close and start operation of the compressor lmotor, and means for periodically moving said switch actuating means in direction to open the switch, said means includingla source of motive power arranged to operate continuously regardless of the condition of the compressor motor circuit, a gear train, a shaft operated thereby, and means on said shaft for periodically moving said control element in direction to open the switch, said last mentioned, means being arranged -to avoid contact with said control element yafter the latter has been moved to switchopening' position.

10. In an electrically operated apparatus: the combination of a motor; a supply circuit therefor, including'a switch; and mechanism for controlling said switch comprising a movable element, switch actuating means associated therewith, coin control means for moving said element in direction to cause said switch to close and start operation of the motor, and means for periodicallymoving said switch actuating means in direction to open the switch, said means including a source'of motive power, a gear train, a'shaft op- 135 erated thereby, and a mechanically operated pawl on said shaft arranged to impart a sudden thrust to said element to effect quick opening of the switch` BERT E. MILLS. 

